Closer Carlos Estévez, over 34 appearances (33 innings), has pitched to a 1.91 ERA, with seven earned runs, eight runs, 26 hits, 16 walks and 41 strikeouts. He has an opponent batting average of .215.
Entering Wednesday, Estévez, who has a 2-1 record and two holds, has also been perfect in saves, going 20 for 20 on his opportunities this season.
“I think I should be, at least, thought about, if not talked about,” Estévez said before Wednesday’s 11-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Angel Stadium. “Hopefully.”
Aside from setting a team record for consecutive saves when he converted save No. 20 on Tuesday against the White Sox, he is also the only reliever in the American League who is perfect with a minimum 20 saves and 30 innings pitched.
Alexis Diaz, who pitches for the Cincinnati Reds in the National League, has converted all 22 of his save opportunities over 35 games (34 innings) and is the only other closer perfect with 20 or more saves.
As strong of a candidate as Estévez is, his path to potential All-Star isn’t like Ohtani’s and Trout’s. While starting position players get voted in by fan ballots, all pitchers and reserve players are selected through a combination of player ballots and the commissioner’s office.
The rule of representation at the All-Star Game also requires MLB to make sure every team is represented by at least one player. If another team’s best/most worthy player is a reliever, that might preclude Estévez from being selected. Not every player named an All-Star elects to or is able to participate, so Estévez’s other chance might be a selection as a replacement.
As far as the competition among other closers in the AL with more saves than Estévez this season:
Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase is 24 for 29 with a 2.35 ERA, .215 opponent batting average and 35 strikeouts over 381/3 innings; Toronto’s Jordan Romano is 23 for 26 in saves with a 2.76 ERA, .224 average and 40 strikeouts over 322/3 innings; Baltimore’s Felix Bautista is 21 for 26 in saves with a 1.23 ERA, .141 average and 74 strikeouts over 362/3 innings.
Of those three, Clase and Romano were All-Stars last year.
After Estévez, the next three closers with the most saves are:
Boston’s Kenley Jansen, 16 for 19, 3.08 ERA, .225 average, 31 strikeouts over 26 1/3 innings; Houston’s Ryan Pressly, 14 for 17 in saves, 2.97 ERA, .205 average, 35 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings; and Seattle’s Paul Sewald, 14 for 17 in saves, 2.84 ERA, .180 average, 42 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said last week even though he was not familiar with where Estévez stacked up, that his closer was certainly deserving of All-Star consideration.
(Reed Hoffmann / Associated Press)
“I mean, the best closers in the game, they’re rarely 19 for 19 in saves,” Nevin said after Estévez secured his 19th save, “and I know he had a little bit of a hiccup there in Texas. For me, that was just from overuse.
“I can’t see him not being [in the All-Star Game],” Nevin continued. “I don’t know there’s anybody that’s perfect in saves so far, knock on wood. … I don‘t know how it goes, but I’d be shocked if he wasn’t in that conversation.”
The one hiccup that Estévez had, on June 15 in Texas, was not during a save opportunity.
Estévez was pitching for the seventh time in 12 games and for the third time in the four-game series in Texas.
For the first time in a long time, he felt tired.
He has had additional days of rest since then, getting saves Nos. 19 and 20 along the way.
Estévez, though, said he hoped to be an All-Star, liked his chances given his numbers and wouldn’t necessarily feel snubbed if it didn’t happen this year.
“Honestly, I never expect to be that high up like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna go to the All-Star game,’” he said. “I have a motto, don’t ever expect way too much out of anyone so you don’t get disappointed if it doesn’t happen.
“So, I’m kind of like right there. With the number that I have put up and how the team is going, I think it’ll be really good to be an All-Star.”
Estévez has played an important role in the Angels’ season (44-37 entering Wednesday). The right-hander is in the middle of what is shaping up to be a career year.
Last season with the Colorado Rockies was his previous best as far as ERA.
Estévez was not the Rockies’ closer, but he finished the season with a 3.47 ERA, a 4-4 record, 13 holds and was two for six in save opportunities.
Players from around the league have reached out to Estévez to congratulate him on all his success so far this season.
“Just like, ‘Man, amazing to see how you’re doing,’ ‘Good for you,’” Estévez recalled of some of the recent messages.
“Yency Almonte from the Dodgers was like, ‘I’m proud of you, keep it up.’
“Even guys from the Rockies, guys that I haven’t played with, but I’ve talked to them. And that’s a good feeling.”